Section B

3

A Western mother’s responses

A Western mother’s responses

To master the reading skill

To understand the text

To practice the phrases and patterns

To make a peer interview

Objectives

8 The art of parentingUNIT

Warming-up

Reading skills

Text study

Comparative study

Contents

Unit project

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses

Warming-up

Lead-in

Background information

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses

1. According to the speaker, in home education, what should parents do to lead children and help them on their right trail?

Watch a video clip and answer the following questions

Video Watching

Tips

2. In terms of American parenting style, what do parents do when their children do something wrong?

Lead-in

Tips

Watch a video clip and answer the following questionsLead-in

Back

Tips

Lead-in

• to exert good influences on them; • to give them good opportunities to learn how to become a

responsible person; • to need cooperation and support from teachers and

schools; • to take part in some religious activities;• to attend some extra curriculum activities …

Watch a video clip and answer the following questions

1. According to the speaker, in home education, what should parents do to lead children and help them on their right trail?

• A saying in English: let the punishment fit the crime;

• We have to teach them if they did something wrong what the consequences are; to make them learn lessons;

• No one method will cover all cases, teaching children according to their different character traits.

Lead-in

Watch a video clip and answer the following questions

Tips

2. In terms of American parenting style, what do parents do when their children do something wrong?

1. What is dyslexia?

2 . What’s your knowledge of Carnegie Hall?

Tips

Tips

Background information

1. What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is an inability or pronounced difficulty to learn to read or spell, despite otherwise normal intellectual functions. Primary symptoms include extremely poor reading skills owing to no apparent cause, a tendency to read and write words and letters in reversed sequences, similar reversals of words and letters in the person’s speech, and illegible handwriting. Dyslexia is best treated by a sustained course of proper instruction in reading.

Tips

Background information

2 . What’s your knowledge of Carnegie Hall?

Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, the United States. It was designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1891. As one of the most prestigious venues in the world for both classical music and popular music, Carnegie Hall has long been the most famous concert hall in the US. It presents about 250 performances each season and is also rented out to individual speakers and other groups.

Tips

Background information

Reading skills

Presentation of the skill

Reading skill practice

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses

When we read, we’d better read sentences

in units or thought groups than one word at a

time. This skill requires practice but, if

mastered, is well worth the effort. In this unit,

we continue to develop this skill by trying to

read in phrases of three or four words,

especially in complete clauses.

For example, a proficient reader may read

Paragraph 3, Text A, like this:

Reading in thought groups

First, / I’ve noticed / Western parents / cradle their children’s self-esteem, / to insulate them from criticism. / They worry about / how their children will feel / if they fail, / and constantly try / to solve their children’s worries, / regardless of / how badly they perform. / The presumption is / that the child is tender, / not strong, / and as a result / Western parents behave very differently / than Chinese parents.

Reading in thought groups

Now read the first and last paragraphs of

Text B in thought groups. While reading,

move your eyes quickly and don’t make too

many eye stops. Meanwhile, put a slash

between thought groups, just like what you

see from the sample paragraph.

Reading in thought groups

• Cut up Text B into three strips.

• Read quickly.

• Shift the center strip in any direction

creating an even greater challenge

for your brain.

• Put the strips back together the way they started.

A speed reading game

Reading in thought groups

Text study

Text comprehension

Language focus

Critical thinking

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses

1. According to Paragraph 1, what does the Chinese mother ascribe her child’s success to? (Para.1)

2. Why did the author stare at her daughter’s report card in stony silence? (Paras. 2-7)

3. Why did the author’s eldest daughter break into tears? (Para. 7)4. What is the difference between Chinese mothers and herself

regarding their daughter's disappointing grades? (Para. 8)5. How do you understand “Reading her essay definitely put some

Chinese iron into my Western spine”? (Para. 9) 6. What are problems of Rosie? And how did the author do with her

problem? (Para. 10) 7. What is the major reason for Rosie’s overcoming her dyslexia?

(Paras. 10-11)8. What is the right attitude shared by both Chinese and Western

mothers? (Para. 13)

Questions previewing

1. According to Paragraph 1, what does the Chinese

mother ascribe her child’s success to? (Para. 1)

The Chinese child-rearing techniques of criticism and name-calling

Reading in thought groups like this:ascribing her child’s success / to the Chinese child-rearing techniques / of criticism / and name-calling

Tips

Note

原句：I might question the arrogance of ascribing her child’s success to the Chinese child-rearing techniques of criticism and name-calling. (Para. 1, L4) 解释 : I might wonder why the Chinese mother is so excessively proud of her child-raising method of criticizing and scolding, which she believes leads to her child’s success.

译文：我也许会质疑她把自己孩子的成功归结于中国式批评和谩骂的养育技巧，这种想法实在傲慢。

Sentence interpretation

2. Why did the author stare at her daughter’s report

card in stony silence? (Paras. 2-7)

She was not

satisfied with

the three

grades that are

not solid As.

Tips

3. Why did the author’s eldest daughter break into tears? (Para. 7)

She believed that

her great efforts

were ignored by

her mother.

Tips

4. What is the difference between Chinese mothers and herself regarding their daughter's disappointing grades? (Para. 8)

Tips

She felt ashamed that she failed to refrain

her anger at her daughter's failure.

原句：The difference, I suppose, between proud Chinese mothers and Western ones is that I felt ashamed that I didn’t subordinate my anger to my pride in what she did accomplish. (Para. 8, L23) 解释 : The difference, I suppose, between proud Chinese mothers and Western ones is that I felt ashamed that I failed to control my anger and show my pride in what she did achieve.译文：自负的中国母亲与西方母亲之间的差异，我觉得，在于我很羞愧自己并未对女儿取得的成绩感到自豪，而是任由自己的怒气发泄。

Sentence interpretation

5. How do you understand “Reading her essay definitely put some Chinese iron into my Western spine”? (Para. 9)

The author obtains something useful from

the traditional Chinese way of educating

children.

Tips

6. What are problems of Rosie? And how did the author do with her problem? (Para. 10)

• Rosie is mildly dyslexic, reading words

backward / lagging far behind her classmates /

stopped loving school and lost her sparkle.

• For years I forced her to spell words, take

practice tests and rehearse.

Tips

译文：…… 原来——在她内心，她早已准备好惩罚自己 ,我只不过是在延长她的痛苦，粉碎她的信心。

粉碎她的信心

原句：… it turns out – inside, she was all ready to punish herself, and I was only prolonging her misery and shattering her confidence. (Para. 10 ， L40)

解释 : She was all ready to punish herself, and I was only bringing her more misery and destroying her confidence.

Sentence interpretation

原句：She lost her sparkle. (Para. 10, L44)

解释 : She became a dull girl, lacking enthusiasm for anything.

译文： 她失去了活力。

7. What is the major reason for Rosie’s overcoming her dyslexia? (Paras. 10-11)

Her own strong will, as well as the proper guidance from the supervisor helped her through the difficulties.

Tips

原句：Rosie has a process she follows when she’s scared – “Overcome your fears,” she whispers to herself. (Para. 11, L56)

解释 : Rosie has her own way of dealing with her fears – whispering to herself the words: “Overcome your fears.”

译文： 每当害怕的时候，罗西有一套自己的办法——

她 会对自己轻声说，“要战胜恐惧”。

Sentence interpretation

8. What is the right attitude shared by both Chinese and Western mothers? (Para. 13)

TipsBe the type of mother that each of their different children needs.

原句：Wherever we reside on our big green, blue planet, Chinese mothers and I both understand that our job as mothers is to be the type of tigress that each of our different children needs. (Para. 13, L74)解释 : No matter where we live, Chinese mothers and I both understand that our job is to be the strict mother that each of our different children needs.译文：这碧绿而又蔚蓝的广袤星球上，无论我们居于何处，中国母亲和我都明白，我们作为母亲的职责是成为每个孩子各自所需要的母老虎类型。

Sentence interpretation

A Western mother’s responses After seeing the column by the Chinese mother published in the newspaper, I might wonder why the Chinese mother proudly __________ the child’s success to her child-raising method of criticism and ___________ so much, when it could just as likely have resulted from genetic or _________________. However, I couldn’t hold such opinions just because of my own experience. At the sight of only 5 solid As by Sophie, my oldest, I ________ contemptuously ___ her father’s happy congratulations, _________ my displeasure clearly enough, I ____________ my pride in what she did accomplish __ my anger. And I eventually

Text summary

ascribes

name-calling

economic blessings

sniffed at articulated

subordinateto

apologized to her. But Chinese methods, I think, do still need some _________, which reminded me of my daughter Rosie is mildly dyslexic – my criticism and forced rehearsing was only prolonging her misery and ______________________. Consequently, I was suddenly enlightened that ________________ roaring like a tiger turns children into pianists who _______ at Carnegie Hall, but in others it only limits, constricts, and _____________. Chinese mothers and I both understand that our job as mothers is to be the type of tigress that each of our different children needs.

scrutiny

shattering her confidence

in some scenarios debut

reins them in

Text summary

Practical Phrases Specific Meanings

1. ascribe…to 把…归因于2. sniff at 对…嗤之以鼻3. be subordinate…to 服从于4. work through 解决（问题）5. right off the bat 立刻；马上6. clamp down on （对…）进行压制7. lag behind 落后；拖欠8. out of character 不合乎某人的性格

Language focus

Practical phrases

把…归因于

(all that have happened) It’s wrong to ascribe all that have happened simply to the war.

ascribe…to短语逆译

短语应用把发生的一切归咎于战争是错误的。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

对…嗤之以鼻 sniff at 短语逆译

(make great progress)

Don't sniff at his effort and he's made great 

progress.

短语应用不要瞧不起他的努力，他已经取得很大的进步了。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

服从于

(be above the law / senior figure)

No one is above the law, even a president or a senior figure, everyone is subordinate to the law. 

be subordinate to短语逆译

短语应用任何人不得超越法律，无论他是总统还是高级人物，每个人都必须遵从法律。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

解决（问题）

(a range of) Both partners started young and had to work through a range of personal problems and private defeats until they eventually succeeded.

work through短语逆译

短语应用两个合伙人都是年轻时就起步了，克服了一系列个人问题和失败，最后才获得成功。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

立刻；马上

(insult / give sb. a bad image)

Don’t insult former bosses or coworkers, as this will give you a bad image right off the bat.

right off the bat短语逆译

短语应用不要诋毁前老板或同事，因为这会马上让你留下一个坏印象。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

（对…）进行压制

(try to do sth./public officials)

The local government had tried repeatedly to clamp down on gambling by public officials but had never had much success.

clamp down on 短语逆译

短语应用当地政府多次试图打击公职人员赌博，但没有多少成效。意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

落后；拖欠

(space technology) Why does this country lag behind the others in the development of space technology?

lag behind短语逆译

短语应用这个国家为什么在航天技术的发展方面落后于别国呢 ? 意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

不合乎某人性格

(every now and then/the urge to do/expect from sb.) Every now and then she feels the urge to do something exciting and out of character; people are never quite sure what to expect from her.

out of character短语逆译

短语应用她时时都有去做刺激或出格之事的冲动，人们从来都不太确定她将干什么。

意群提示

Language focus

Practical phrases

Functional Patterns Functions & Usages1. More importantly, if sb. did

sth., sb. would do sth. else.用于强调“某人做某事所引起的结果”。

2. Admittedly, (and sb. is ashamed to say), sb. do (not do) sth., (not) doing whatever …

用于“表达某人内心的一种自我反省”。

3. In some scenarios doing sth. Do …, but in others it only do sth. else.

用于“对比同一件事情所产生的不同结果” 。

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型提炼

更重要的是，如果我确实持此观点，就得冒着被自己孩子说成骗子的风险。

原句译文

逆译练习More importantly, if I did make such contentions, I’d risk being called a liar by my own children. (Para.2, L1)

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型应用

More importantly, if sb. did sth., sb. would do sth. else.

句型提炼

应用提示用于强调“某人做某事所引起的结果”。

Language focus

Functional patterns

(offer more help and support / grow in good health) More importantly, if we offered these women more help and support, they will live to see their children grow in good health. 

典型例句更重要的是，如果我们给予这些妇女更多帮助的话，他们就能活着看到他们的孩子健康成长。

意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型提炼

诚然（对此我也很惭愧），我之后也并没有去找数百套的测验题，然后与女儿一起做题到深夜，千方百计让她拿到 A 。

原句译文

逆译练习Admittedly, (and I am ashamed to say this too), I also did not then go out and get hundreds of practice tests and work through them with my daughter far into the night, doing whatever it took to get her the A. (Para.8, L 3)

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型应用

Admittedly, (and sb. is ashamed to say), sb. do (not do) sth., (not) doing whatever …

句型提炼

应用提示用于表达“某人内心的一种自我反省”。

Language focus

Functional patterns

(feel guilty / renew the relations)

典型例句诚然（对此我也很内疚），我之后也并没有去承认自己的错误，为我的鲁莽向他道歉，千方百计恢复我们的关系。意群提示

Admittedly, (and I felt guilty to say this too), I also did not admit my own mistakes and apologize to him for my rudeness, doing whatever it took to renew our relations.

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型提炼

某些情形下，咆哮如虎能让孩子成为在卡内基音乐厅首演的钢琴家，在其他情况下这只会限制、压迫、束缚他们。

原句译文

逆译练习In some scenarios roaring like a tiger turns children into pianists who debut at Carnegie Hall, but in others it only limits, constricts, and reins them in. (Para.13, L4)

Language focus

Functional patterns

句型应用

In some scenarios doing sth. do …, but in others it only do sth. else.

句型提炼

应用提示用于“对比同一件事情所产生的不同结果”。

Language focus

Functional patterns

(speculate in the stock market / to get rich overnight / dissipate one’s fortune)

In some scenarios speculating in the stock market turns people with much practical experience in such a professional field into getting rich overnight, but in others it only makes a loss and even dissipate their fortune.

典型例句在某些情形下，炒股确实可以让具有丰富实践经验的人一夜暴富，但其他情况下这只会让他们赔钱甚至倾家荡产。意群提示

Language focus

Functional patterns

1.良好的经济条件 economic blessings

2. 一言不发 stony silence

3. 眯缝着眼睛看 to narrow one’s eyes at sb./sth.

4. 恼怒的爆发 hair-tearing explosion

5. 痛哭失声 to collapse in tears

6. 做某事到深夜 do sth. far into the night

7. 粉碎自信心 to shatter one’s confidence

8. 失去活力 to lose one’s sparkle

9. 开始意识到 to emerge with a conception of

10. 投入令人钦佩的热情

to channel one’s admirable passion into …

11. 热切的关注 positive enthusiasm

Language focus

Genuine collocations

她痛哭失声，我忍住了没说她像个白痴，但那也只是因

为我担心丈夫的责备而已。

a. But, it was only because I

feared my husband’s reproach

that I refrained from telling my

own daughter, when she

collapsed in tears, that she was

acting like an idiot. (Para.7, L5)

Language focus

Language appreciation

我批评她以及强迫她不断练习是多余的，

原来——在她内心，她早已准备好惩罚自

己，我只不过是在延长她的痛苦，粉碎她

的信心。 b. My criticism and forced

rehearsing was redundant, it

turns out – inside, she was all

ready to punish herself, and I

was only prolonging her

misery and shattering her

confidence. (Para.10, L5)

Language focus

Language appreciation

每天我们去接她时，她的脸总是红红的，满是泪水，两眼无神，疲惫

不堪。

c. Every day when we

picked her up, her face

would be red with tears,

her eyes hollow and

exhausted. (Para.11, L1)

Language focus

Language appreciation

他们同样是不屈不挠，无比坚定，只不过用的

是完全不同的方式。 d. They are just as dogged

and determined, but in an

entirely different way.

(Para.13, L4)

Language focus

Language appreciation

1. What do you think of the phenomenon that some parents in China send their children to schools in Western countries?

2. What would you do if you had different opinions from your spouse about how to educate

your child?

3. Which is more important for a child’s academic success, the genetic blessing or the parenting

method?

Tips

Tips

Tips

Critical thinking

Further discussion

• Do a lot of good / more educational

opportunities abroad / become

independent in a new environment / better

understand the world outside;• Not a good idea/ lead to some problems /

have difficulties in daily life / culture

shock / unfamiliar language / differences

in teaching methods / economic pressure.

Tips

1. What do you think of the phenomenon that some parents in China send their children to schools in Western countries?

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Talk to him / her about my opinions; hoping to

convince him / her immediately; Suggest we

both read books about children education; Ask

the opinions of our child, and observe his / her

reaction to see whose method works better, To

sum up, parents are a child’s first and most

important teachers, and we must work together

to find the most suitable parenting method.

Tips

2. What would you do if you had different opinions from your spouse about how to educate

your child?

Critical thinking

Further discussion

The parenting method is more important. Firstly,

a good parenting method can provide the child with the

most suitable capabilities and skills for success.

Secondly, it can lay a solid foundation and build up all

the traits, confidence, interest, determination that are

crucial to a child’s success in the future. Thirdly, it can

largely save the child’s time and energy by leading the

child directly to the field that he / she should focus on.

Tips

3. Which is more important for a child’s academic success, the genetic blessing or the parenting method?

Critical thinking

Further discussion

Amy Chua, an Asian American

mother, a Yale professor and the

author of the book Battle Hymn

of the Tiger Mother which has

aroused heated discussion

among so great number of

readers. In this book, she makes

ten rules and regulations for her

two daughters:

Cultural explorationCritical thinking

Her daughters were never allowed to do:1. attend a sleepover 2. have a play date3. be in a school play4. complain about not being in a school play5. watch TV or play computer games6. choose their own extracurricular activities7. get any grade less than an A8. not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym

and drama9. play any instrument other than the piano or violin10. not play the piano or violin

Cultural explorationCritical thinking

1. For Chinese mothers’ part, what’s your views on the ten family rules and regulations made by Amy Chua for her children?

2. What are differences and similarities of home education between China and Western countries?

Tips

Tips

Cultural explorationCritical thinking

Tips

1. For Chinese mothers’ part, what’s your views on the ten family rules and regulations made by Amy Chua for her children?

To be continued

I completely agree with it, maybe we’ve heard of such an old Chinese saying “ 没有规矩不 成 方圆” . It means nothing can be accomplished without norms or standard. Children are so young that they have not established right philosophy and value of life; that they are unable to make a right judgment; that they are incapable of controlling themselves, strict norms and standards are essential and necessary for them.

Cultural explorationCritical thinking

I harbor reservations about it. Most Chinese parents are so strict with their children on their academic performance, talent and skills and will not allow their children do some things bad or illegal in their eyes, which is understandable. But personally, appropriateness should be set your priorities. For excessive limitations will definitely turn out to be just the opposite of your wish.

Tips

1. For Chinese mothers’ part, what’s your views on the ten family rules and regulations made by Amy Chua for her children?

Cultural explorationCritical thinking

The difference between China and Western countries: In China, parents spoil the child too much and take the child as the most important person in the family. In Western countries, parents adopt a more rational attitude toward children. The similarities are that parents all pay attention to home education, have a clear division of their duties.

2. What are differences and similarities of home education between China and Western countries?

Tips

Cultural explorationCritical thinking

Thematic study

Comparative study

Thematic study

Language features analysis

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses

2. One day, you are bound to be parent, what kind of parenting method do you prefer?

1. Compare the author’s different attitudes on children’s home education that you have learned from Text A and Text B.

Tips

Tips

1. Compare the author’s different attitudes on children’s home education in Text A and Text B.

Text A

The author presents a

view that the Chinese

parenting method is

more beneficial to

children in preparing

them for the future.

Text B

The author defends the

Western mothers’ parenting

philosophy and claims that

Western parents are just as

good as Chinese parents.

Both methods passionately believe in education, encouraging success and excellence in their children, so, as for me, I prefer such a synthesis of both kinds of parenting methods:On the one hand, Western parents teach children based on their own characteristics, providing enough space for children’s development, so that they can grow happily and become healthy, creative, open-minded and independent person.

Tips

2. One day, you are bound to be parent, what kind of parenting method do you prefer?

On the other hand, it is necessary to provide guidance and necessary restriction for children. In this sense I prefer the Chinese way. Chinese parents teach their children self-discipline, politeness, respect and kindness, which are important elements of Chinese traditional culture.

Tips

2. One day, you are bound to be parents, what kind of parenting method do you prefer?

Based on your study of

the two texts, compare

the writing styles of the

two texts in terms of their

typical language features.

1. What are the typical language features of the two texts?

2. List more examples from the text to support your ideas.

Tips

Tips

Text A is a typical piece of argumentative essay, developed by employing comparisons which is used to make the author’s viewpoint more specific and clearer.

Text B gives both narrations and comments on the author’s viewpoint, constructed by telling stories with the narrative in chronological order and dialogues.

1. What are the typical language features of the two texts?

Tips

2. List more examples from the text to support your ideas.

TipsText A

… If a child comes home with an A-minus on a

test, a Western parent will most likely praise the

child. For a Chinese mother an A-minus is no

milestone; she will gasp in displeasure and ask

what went wrong. (Para. 4)

2. List more examples from the text to support your ideas.

TipsText B

“What?”she said. “I got 5 solid As.”

I shrugged.

“Come on,” my husband complained. (Paras.3-5)

Unit project

Brainstorming

Peer interview

Story-telling

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses

Group discussion

Based on the following

description, guess what it is.

Brainstorming

Piano

Brainstorming

A large musical instrument;

Beethoven; Langlang.

With a row of black and white keys;

Tennis

Two or four players;

A hollow, rubber ball and an oval racket with strings;

Simone de Beauvoir; Li’na.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming

Calligraphy

The art of producing beautiful handwriting;

  Using a brush or a special pen;

Wang Xizhi

Work in pairs and make an interview

with each other on the following

questions. One is the interviewer; the

other is the interviewee and then switch

roles.

Peer interview

1. The ways in which your parents make you to learn.

2. Your feelings at that time.

Peer interview

Interview

5. The parenting style you would take to educate your kids in the future.

Background: Your parents had forced you to take up a hobby which you disliked, such as playing a musical instrument or drawing, etc.

3. Your present attitude toward it.

4. The impact of the hobby on your present life.

You can talk on the following aspects:

Tell about your own stories

You may include the following points:

• Your learning experience in other areas like

learning music, dancing, or painting …

• Your parents methods;

• Your understanding of their efforts and sacrifices.

Story-telling

You may use the following expressions in your story:

Story-telling

• Depends upon a first-class education;

• Have (no) interest in doing sth.;

• To find great joy in doing sth.;

• To clamp down on sth./sb.;

• It turned out that …;

• Look back, …

What does it mean to be a successful parent and what does it mean to be a successful child? (Open)

Listen to a audio clip and think about the following question

Group discussion

The End

Section B

A Western mother’s re-sponses

A Western mother ’s re-sponses